WWOC: Virginia Deberry & Donna Grant

Full name: Virginia DeBerry

Birth date: July 6

Location: (Birth: Wadesboro, NC) Now: Central New Jersey


Full name: Donna Grant

Birth date: October 14

Location: (Birth: Brooklyn, NY) Now: Brooklyn, NY

Website/blog: http://deberryandgrant.com http://twomindsfull.blogspot.com (joint) http://open.salon.com/blog/vdeberry (personal)

Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction


WiP or most recently published work: Uptown

Writing credits: :Uptown (Simon & Schuster 2010), Tryin' to Sleep in the Bed You Made (St. Martin’s Press 1997), Far From the Tree (St. Martin’s Press 2001), Better Than I Know Myself (St. Martin’s Press 2004), Gotta Keep on Tryin’ (Simon & Schuster 2008), What Doesn't Kill You (Simon & Schuster 2009), & Exposures (as Marie Joyce-Warner/Popular Library 1990)



How frequently do you update your site? Not often enough!

Is your site designed for reader interaction? No, unfortunately it isn’t.

Posts of note, something in particular you want readers to check out: Virginia’s Open Letter to Oprah from last November

How does your partnership work? Do you both come up with the initial ideas, does one of you prefer to edit?

We both participate in all phases of writing. We brainstorm ideas, develop characters jointly and we both write and edit. People have often said the writing must be twice as fast since there are two of us. In reality, it probably takes twice as long, but the process of collaborating has been amazing.



Let's say I've just walked into a bookstore and I'm not sure which one of your books I should start with, which one would you recommend I read first and why?

That’s a really difficult question because we love all of our “children” equally. But let’s put it this way, Tryin’ to Sleep in the Bed You Made is the most popular—800,000 copies sold. Far From the Tree & What Doesn’t Kill You are our personal favs, but Better Than I Know Myself should also be on that list. If you read Tryin’ you should read Gotta Keep on Tryin’ and we think there’s an important message in Uptown. And if you want to know how we began—find a copy of Exposures—now available on Kindle & Nook!

What's next for DeBerry & Grant?

We’re not sure. We did 3 books in a little over 3 years and that meant 3 book tours and loads of other promotional events and activities so we’re a bit drained at the moment. We have a few ideas we’re fleshing out, but there won’t be a new novel from us in 2011—maybe by 2012.


Top 5 reads you’re looking forward to reading in 2011?

Since this is a brainstorming time, at the moment we are reading more source material—newspapers, magazines and walking around with our ears open to the stories there are to tell and the characters to tell them with.

100 words or less how would you describe your work?

We call our books, “Life Stories.” We look for the joy, sadness, heartache and triumph—the drama—in all of our lives. We write about the loves, losses, betrayals, and feuds we have all gone through in our families, with our friends, with our children, in our neighborhoods, and how we got over, around and through them. What happens when your loved one has “habits” that put the family in jeopardy? What do you find out about yourself and your friends when you lose your job and your way of life has to change? Those kinds of situations make great jumping off points for stories that we hope keep you turning the pages and wondering what happens next as well as thinking about what you would do in a character’s shoes.

100 words on less please share your thoughts on children and reading

Both of us have early childhood memories that involve reading. Virginia looked forward to weekly Friday afternoon library visits with her family where she was excited to choose her books for the week. Donna remembers sitting on the subway next to her Mom, each of them reading until they reached their stop. Making reading “cool” for children, starts a habit that allows young people to see worlds beyond the one they know. Strong reading skills allow them to excel in any area they choose. If you love to read, share that love with a child—introduce them to books, buy them a book, turn them on and encourage them to explore.


I've only read two of Virginia DeBerry & Donna Grant's books but I'm impressed at how long these two ladies have been published and I've very much enjoyed both of the books by them I have read. I liked Better Than I Know Myself but I really really liked Tryin' to Sleep in the Bed You Made. Now I just need to read Gotta Keep on Tryin' (along with the rest of their books!). Life Stories is a great, accurate description of their work and maybe they will write for kids and teens one day. I know they could help make reading cool ;)

WWOC: Renee Watson

Full name: Renée Watson

Birth date: July 29, 1978

Location: Paterson, NJ (But I grew up in Portland, Oregon)

Website/blog: http://www.reneewatson.net/

Genre: Children’s and Young Adult Literature

WiP or most recently published work:

Recently Published: A Place Where Hurricanes Happen and What Momma Left Me

Writing credits: Picture Book: A Place Where Hurricanes Happen (Random House, June 2010)

Middle Grade Novel: What Momma Left Me (Bloomsbury, July 2010)

Articles in Rethinking Schools:

Five Years After the Levees Broke: Bearing Witness through Poetry (Spring 2010)

From Pain to Poetry: The Murder of Sean Bell (Spring 2008)

How frequently do you update your site? Monthly

Is your site designed for reader interaction? No, not yet. Although I post new poems and short stories often. Teachers can also download teacher’s guides for my books.

You've had a busy year, with two new releases (What Momma Left Me and A Place Where Hurricanes Happen). Was it intentional to publish two books so closely together? What was your inspiration for both books?

No, it wasn’t intentional at all to have both books come out so close together. The books are published with different publishing houses, so that’s why the release dates were so close together.

In 2006, a year after hurricane Katrina, I led poetry and theater workshops with young people who were coping with the aftermath of Katrina. The children I worked with inspired me to write A Place Where Hurricanes Happen. Their poetry and stories stayed with me long after I returned to New York, and I wanted to write something to honor their experience.

What Momma Left Me was first a stage play I wrote in high school. I don’t really know why the story stayed with me all these years. I have always been intrigued by the notion of generational curses and blessings—do children really become their parents? And I’ve also worked with young women who either experienced or have been affected by domestic violence, and so, the story was birthed out of a combination of my own questioning and witnessing.

What Momma Left Me has a bit of a Christian leaning. Did you worry that this would alienate any readers? Why did you decide to have the prayer of the Our Father/Christianity overall play a role in the book?

I was never worried about alienating readers because I believe readers are always taking in new worlds so I figured if Christianity was not a part of the reader’s life, they would accept it as Serenity’s truth.

It was important for me to show a young person struggling with what she believes. Having Christianity play a role in the book was another way of questioning and examining what is passed down from one generation to the next.

I also tend to write close to my reality, and growing up church was definitely a part of my life. I wanted a realistic picture of the black community, and in my experience, the Christian church has always played a role—big or small—in the neighborhoods I grew up in.

What was it like to have A Place Where Hurricanes Happen featured on NBC Nightly News? How did the subject come up?

I was very honored to have A Place Where Hurricanes Happen featured. The illustrator, Shadra Strickland, and I were determined to go to New Orleans and give books to students who inspired the story. We were both so excited to share the experience. It was our first time meeting and sharing the work together. So on many levels, the trip to New Orleans was special.

Top 5 reads you’re looking forward to reading in 2010?

Right now, I’m preparing to teach poetry and theater residencies for the Fall and Winter, so I’m reading poetry books so I can get material to use in the classroom. My Top 5 reads right now are Morning Haiku by Sonia Sanchez, Crowned by Ellen Hagan, Blood Dazzler by Patricia Smith, and I’m also devouring Linda Christensen’s book on teaching about social justice issues through poetry, titled, Teaching for Joy & Justice. But in terms of fiction, Chimamanda Adichie’s collection of short stories, The Thing Around Your Neck, is patiently waiting for me for finish it.

100 words or less how would you describe your work?

Because of my background in poetry, my fiction tends to be lyrical. I write about topics that are important to me, and so, even though I write fiction, my stories are very close to reality.

100 words or less please share your thoughts on

Writing and activism

The two are synonymous to me. In the classroom, when I teach poetry, I am always telling students that their voices are powerful, that their voices can change the world. When I teach the poems of Langston Hughes, Martin Espada, Willie Perdormo, Lucille Clifton, Gwendolyn Brooks, Maya Angelou—and countless others—students see how mighty the pen is. I challenge them to think about how their writing can be used as a weapon against injustice, as a bullhorn for the silent, and a witness to the neglected.

Women Writers of Color: Cindy Pon

Full name: cindy pon

Birth date: august 29

Location: taipei, taiwan

Website/blog: cindypon.com

Genre: young adult fantasy

WiP or most recently published work: Fury of the Phoenix, the sequel to Silver Phoenix.

Writing credits: Silver Phoenix was my debut novel.

How frequently do you update your site? once or twice a week i'll post on my blog.

Is your site designed for reader interaction? yes! i love blog comments as well as emails from readers.
Post of note, something in particular you want readers to check out:

http://cindypon.com/2008/when-they-were-young/

i recently thought about my maternal grandmother. i dedicated Silver Phoenix
to her and my grandfather. i share some fotos and thoughts about them in this
post.

Top 5 reads you’re looking forward to reading in 2010 (or have already read)?

i really loved The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, The Demon's Covenant, Clockwork Angel, Tipping the Velvet and Unwind. all read this year.

100 words or less how would you describe your work?

Chinese inspired fantasy that may read epic at times but really grounded in very personal journeys about growth, friendship, family, love, choices and change. there are demons, cute boys, and food. =)

You are unafraid to write about sexuality in Silver Phoenix. Were you nervous about writing those scenes and seeing how people would respond?

not really. i wrote what i felt was appropriate for my story and the culture i created. when a society's expectation of a girl is for her to make babies, there's no tip toeing around that fact. i think it has made some readers uncomfortable, how forthright i am with that aspect of the storytelling. but i think i remain true to to it--and perhaps, being made uncomfortable isn't such a bad thing. this was a reality for many girls in societies and cultures of the past, even today.

You were recently the subject of a cover controversy. How do you propose we bring more attention to books about PoC so that publishers don't feel the need to whitewash the book in order to support the author and so that bookstores are more receptive to selling them?

The truth of the matter is, publishing is a business and money does need to be made. i think when we see a young adult novel featuring a main protagonist of color gain commercial success, we'll be taking strides in the right direction.

I've always said that The Story is the most important thing to me. after all, it's what i poured my heart and soul into. i understand readers being upset over the cover change, because it was symbolic in many ways. there simply isn't anything like Silver Phoenix on the young adult shelves right now. but if the cover change is necessary to give the book a second life in bookstores, of course i'll support it. is the situation ideal? no. but again, until we have that breakout novel...

the very fact that Silver Phoenix is out there amazes me. i did not have a book like that while growing up.

what can readers do to help? buy the novels!! i realize not everyone can afford to buy hardback covers of novels or perhaps, even paperback. but you can certainly help
PoC stories in other ways :

1. request it at your local library.

2. blog about it. talk about it on twitter, fb. almost everyone agrees that word of mouth still carries A LOT of weight when it comes to a novel's success--especially for debut authors who may not be very well known or carried widely in bookstores.

3. review it (this goes with blogging about it).

4. talk about it with your friends!

5. suggest reading the novel for a book club. if participants can't afford to buy, share the novel. or request through the library. i actually had so much fun doing local library teen book club visits.

6. email the author if you've read her/his story and enjoyed it. i can't
tell you how heartened i've been to hear from readers who really connected with my novel. it's why i wrote it in the first place--to be read by others. it takes a lot of courage to write what you love--and hearing from fans is always a courageous reminder for me.

i'm really a believer in being active through positive action.

thanks so much for having me, ari! i really enjoyed this interview
and thanks for all your support of Silver Phoenix.

Thank you for the interview Cindy! I can not recommend Silver Phoenix enough. It is so very unique. Ai Ling is a fighter while still trying to remain true to the time period she lives in. She can be shy, but she is passionate, committed and brave. Plus she loves to eat and the food descriptions are divine!

Furthermore, even if you are angry at the whitewashing of Cindy's covers, don't refuse to buy the book. Email/write to the publishers and bookstore chains decrying the whitewashing of covers. But the fact of the matter is, the publisher is sticking with Cindy and I, personally, appreciate that. I would be highly upset if I never got to read the sequel to Silver Phoenix.

PS The above is a postcard that you could win later on in a swag giveaway! It's a postcard of Silver Phoenix and a new character, Zhong Ye. It's so pretty :)

Nightly News Featuring - A Place Where Hurricanes Happen - On Aug. 26th

In a special segment on the five-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, NBC-TV’s Nightly News with Brian Williams will feature A Place Where Hurricanes Happen by Renée Watson; Illus. by Shadra Strickland .The segment is slated to run on Thursday, August 26th (6:00-6:30 p.m. EST).

NBC will film at Renée and Shadra’s August 24th event at Maple Street Book Shop in New Orleans, LA.

I squealed with happiness when I heard this news. A Place Where Hurricanes Happen is a wonderful story. The text and illustrations work so well together. Watson and Strickland were both kind enough to agree to do an interview with me back in June at my personal blog.

If your local bookstore doesn't carry A Place Where Hurricanes Happen don't just walk out. Please inform them (nicely) booksellers don't respond well to 'tude, that the book is going to be (or was recently) featured on Nightly News on August 26th. And while your at it ask if they have Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes. Tell your friends to do the same. The more people who make inquires the better.

If you want a copy signed by the author and illustrator contact Maple Street Book Shop
It would make a great gift and you'd be supporting the New Orleans economy. I haven't actually asked anyone at Maple Street Book Shop if they are accepting phone orders. Though I don't see why they wouldn't.

Author Interview: Candy Gourlay

This interview was originally posted at Asia in the Heart, World on the Mind on November 30, 2009.



Tall Story is about Bernardo, an 8 ft. tall boy (a giant!) in the Philippines, and his half-sister Andi in the UK. I really enjoyed reading Tall Story. It's an interesting story and I love so many things about it: How it is about family, Filipino legends and superstitions, and basketball. Its melding of British humor and Filipino humor. Andi's strong and fresh voice. How the main characters seem so real that a part of me thinks there really is an 8 ft. tall boy named Bernardo in the Philippines with a sister named Andi in the UK. I love how in Tall Story there is the question of how belief in legends and superstitions affects how one reacts to events... And does something happen (or not happen) because of a person's belief (or lack thereof) in a legend or superstition?

Tall Story is for children aged 10+ and will be published by David Fickling Books in the UK (June 2010) and the US (early 2011), and by Cacho Publishing House in the Philippines (date to be announced). Today, I am excited to present an interview with Tall Story author Candy Gourlay!

Candy is a Filipino writer who lives in the UK. In the Philippines, she was a journalist for the Philippine Daily Inquirer. In the UK, she was the London correspondent for the news agency Inter Press Service and editor of the pan-European magazine Filipinos in Europe. Candy moved to the UK in 1989 after she married Richard Gourlay, who was the Manila correspondent for the Financial Times of London. Richard and Candy have three children.

Hi, Candy!

What was the spark that set you off writing Tall Story?

I have always been fascinated by gigantism and had the germ of an idea - a teenager who suffers from gigantism.

As an awkward teenager, I felt like a freak - a lot of teenagers, the uncool ones like me, feel like that, don't they? I thought: what if you really were a "freak"? Maybe, a giant?

And then, my sister (Joy Ramos) told me the story of Ujang Warlika.

When her husband, Bong Ramos, a former PBL (Philippine Basketball League) player turned PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) basketball coach, was coaching Aspac Texaco, an Indonesian team, he was asked to turn Ujang into the equivalent of Yao Ming, the Chinese giant.

The thing was, Yao Ming at 7 feet 6 inches was genetically tall ... and Ujang who was 7 feet 4 inches was not tall, he was a giant - he suffered from the disease called gigantism, caused by an overactive pituitary gland that overproduces growth hormones. Ujang ended up spending a lot of time hanging out with my sister's daughter Camille, who is a tiny but formidable basketball player. Camille now plays for La Salle [University] and the Philippine Women's team. Poor Ujang died of his illness.

Please guide us through your writing process, particularly the writing process you used for Tall Story. What influences and inspirations (both literary and non-literary) did you draw from while writing? What were the challenges and rewards from writing Tall Story?

The Philippine legend of Bernardo Carpio is an important part of Tall Story. Can you tell us a bit about the legend and why you incorporated it into the novel? Did you do a lot of research on the legend, or did you rely on the stories you heard growing up?

When I started writing Tall Story in September 2008, I only had that tiny idea - about a teenager with gigantism. I thought of setting it in the UK, but the UK is not a basketball playing country (even though my sons love it, they discovered basketball watching PBA games in the Philippines).

I thought of setting it in the United States - but that would have been super risky, never having lived in the States.

I asked myself what I did know?

I read everything I could find about giants, all the folklore and all the legends. This brought me to Bernardo Carpio, the Filipino legendary giant. I read all the different versions of the Bernardo Carpio story and realized that through the years it had been adapted by storytellers to suit the times - Bernardo Carpio was a metaphor for the resistance against Spain, he was an explanation for a lot of geology in the Montalban area, and he was even a Christ metaphor in the early 1900s. Nick Joaquin wrote a wonderful time travel story featuring Bernardo Carpio in Pop Stories for Groovy Kids, retellings of Filipino stories published in the 80s. That decided me - I was going to tell my own version of Bernardo Carpio and other Filipino folk tales.

I really set out to reflect a Filipino sensibility, despite the story being set partly in London. I had a fear that some Filipinos might not like the way I portray them, given Pinoy sensitivities about their image in the rest of the world. But I set out to capture that unique sense of humour that I miss so much living abroad - our love of poking fun at the way we have domesticated English, the spiritualism that borders on superstition, the rich storytelling seam, the showbiz dramatics, the sense of family and belonging. I hope Pinoy readers will recognize how lovingly I wrote it .. fellow expatriates might feel the undercurrent of homesickness that underlies the whole novel which is the lot of the Filipino abroad. I suspect this will be a constant feature in all my novels!

Was it difficult getting an agent? What was the path to publication for Tall Story?

I have been trying to get published for nine years. I know this because I recorded the date when I started writing my first novel. Tall Story is my fourth!

That first novel was set in London with English characters and had a gripping enough first chapter to have the whole manuscript invited back whenever I sent it out. But I didn't know the ups and downs of plot or in-depth characterization, and had a slew of rejections. I had so much to learn.

I decided to throw myself into the process of learning. I joined the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and tried to attend every event and volunteered for anything going. I thought I would also use my journalistic skills and report on what I learned in a blog - which continues to this day - Notes from the Slushpile.

But it was only when one agent told me, "Why are you writing about English characters? A first novel should reflect the author's experience." that I realized that I was not mining the wealth of experience and story that my heritage had to give. It was only when I started setting my stories in the Philippines and using Filipino characters that my writing really came alive. After that flurry of rejections with my first novel, I became more cautious. I didn't submit my novel to every agent I ever met or heard of. I concentrated on learning to write rather than getting published.

In 2008 I won a place in SCBWI's inaugural Undiscovered Voices anthology with an excerpt of Ugly City, my dystopian fantasy set in a city suspiciously like an extreme Manila. The agent Hilary Delamere had already read another novel of mine and called to tell me she liked it BUT ... after a bit of discussion, she asked if I had anything else. I sent her Ugly City and three days later she signed me up.

Where were you and what were you doing when you found out that your novel was going to be published? What were your first thoughts and feelings? How did you celebrate the good news?

I'm afraid I didn't believe it. I was sure I'd heard wrong and it was only when I actually met my agent at an event a few days after she told me that I felt I had permission to tell the world. Over the years, I guess I'd become overcautious and my default position was rejection. It was really hard to take in the news. I celebrated in little ways with my family and friends. I think it was only the reaction of my 10-year-old friend Hugo that convinced me it was really happening. Last summer I read chapters of Tall Story to Hugo and a bunch of other children.

Candy: Hugo, my book is going to get published.
Hugo: (slightly bored) Which one?
Candy: Tall Story.
Hugo: (genuinely thrilled) TALL STORY? THE ONE YOU READ US LAST SUMMER? THAT IS SO COOL!

And after that I thought it was so cool too!

How are you going to promote Tall Story? What are your plans for its release?

I have not really made plans that far ahead, although June 2010, the launch date in the UK is coming very fast. I want to do some fun stuff online, maybe make some YouTube videos with the kids which I love doing anyway. I will have to redesign my website of course ... and I am hoping my brother Armand Quimpo who is a cool motion graphics animator will make me a book trailer. [Ed. note: See book trailer at the beginning of this post!] I'm definitely going home to the Philippines for the Philippine launch but it's still early days so watch this space!

The two main characters in Tall Story, siblings Bernardo and Andi, make important wishes on a wishing stone. What are your wishes for Tall Story?

Do I get three wishes?

One of my big wishes has already been answered: that a Filipino publisher will take it to a Filipino audience. That has always been so important to me and I made that clear to my agent from the moment we started talking about selling my books. My second wish would be that my readers would love my characters as much as I have come to love them. And my third wish? That the book might inspire kids to read more ... and to write.

THANK YOU Tarie!

Thank you, Candy!!! I can't wait for the world to read Tall Story.

Doret Interviews Derrick Barnes, author of the Ruby Booker Series

Community, we are featuring our first male author. Mr. Barnes is the author of the wonderful children's book series, Ruby Booker. Powers that be don't think Ruby is bringing in enough sales (maybe if there was serious promotion behind the books more readers would be buying and reading) so for those who don't know Ruby or Barnes, Doret took some time to chat with the author. Show some love, friends.

Hello Derrick. Please tell us a little about yourself?
I always answer this question the same way: I'm a husband, father, and children book author---in that order. My family means everything to me. Everything I do, I do it to make sure that they are taken care of, loved, safe, and prepared, in the case of my sons, to grow up to be strong, game changing, young men.

I wish we were talking about your upcoming YA novel, We Could Be Brothers. Next time. Now its all about Ruby Booker.

Who is Ruby Booker?
Ruby Marigold Booker is my fictional 8 and a half year old daughter. We have three boys and no daughter. Its funny, I always spend the first ten minutes of presentations answering questions on how that occurred. After failing to land a deal about three African American boys (the Booker boys), my agent suggested that I make the little sister the protagonist, and thats what I did. Within months we had landed a four book (plus an additional two) deal with Scholastic in 2007.

Imagine a fusion of the family from Spike Lee's Crooklyn, The Cosby Show, and Pippy Longstocking all rolled into one. That's Ruby and the Booker Boys. It's the life and times of a beautiful, talented, eccentric, and intelligent nine year old African American girl in a Brooklyn-esque city called BellowRock. Ruby navigates herself in a world where her three big brothers (the Booker Boys) are extremely popular. Each book is a hilarious, heartwarming, and positive tale about carving out your own identity and a tangible message of self, family, and community love.

Ruby has a great personality. Vanessa Brantley Newton's wonderful illustrations help showcase it. I can't help but love a girl who rocks a guitar bookbag.
Ruby has three older brothers. Younger siblings will easily relate to Ruby's struggles to not be lost amongst her brothers. Did you write Ruby through the eyes of a younger or older sibling?
I guess I wrote Ruby through the eyes of my nieces, daughters of a few of my very close friends, and really every little Black girl that I've ever known. Sure I subscribed to American Girl Magazine, started watching the girlie shows on Disney, but it really wasn't a stretch for me. The series is more so about the family, But I've been around Black women my whole life. I'm crazy about Black women. Love you all to death. Respect, care for, admire, and every single positive glowing adjective you can think of, is how I feel about Black women.

So as an artist, I just thought that if I don't create the type of characters that are not currently available for our little Black girls, than who will?

I really enjoy the interaction between Ruby and her brothers, as well as her parents. The Booker family plays a large roll in this series. How much time did you spend developing Ruby's family?
I really developed the brothers and the parents before I developed Ruby. I was a kid when the Cosby show was a huge hit on NBC and I remember how it made me feel to watch this educated, loving, strong Black family on Thursday nights and begin to feel as if it was really possible for me---a kid from a poor, single parent household to one day become a dad and a husband. The images that artist create are so powerful. I'm conscience of that, so I wanted to create almost a literary version of that Cosby family, for kids of all races to identify with.

What did you do with the first letter you got from a Ruby Booker fan?
I put it in a frame and put it on the fridge. It was a little girl from Rhode Island.

Who do you think loves the Ruby Booker books more, the kids or their parents?
Definitely the parents. I mean, the kids appreciate the candor and the sense of humor in the dialog, but I think the parents can't believe that finally, there is a family and a main character that exists that wasnt there when they were children.

When you tell people the Ruby Booker series is in trouble what has been the response?
There has been an overwhelmingly push to help out however they can. I created a Ruby fanpage on Facebook and within a twelve day span, we already have close to 600 fans! People have been buying books #3 (The Slumber Party Payback) and #4 (Ruby Flips For Attention) like crazy! I love it. The publisher informed me that the books are doing well in the schools, but need a boost in the stores/online in order for them to release the subsequent books. So far, if things keep going the way they are with the fan support, books #5 and beyond will see the light of day.

What can be done to help the Ruby Booker series?
A few things. Please, ask your readers, and every person that they know to 1) purchase books #3 and #4, either online or in a bookstore. The books may or may not be in the store. Please ask the person at the desk to order them. If you order from Amazon.com, please leave a review. 2) If you have a Facebook account, in the search field, just type in Ruby and the Booker Boys to find the fan page. Join the fan page and suggest it to your friends.

I need to boost the sales of those two books, but also show the publisher that there is definitely a demand for the series.

I need your help!

*Derrick Barnes
Ruby and the Booker Boys Facebook fanpage

An Interview with M. LaVora Perry

*This interview was originally published at Multiculturalism Rocks.
Today I’m proud and excited to interview author and publisher M. LaVora Perry. LaVora, thank you for joining us today!

I recently reviewed your book PEACEBUILDERS, in which you share some aspects of the Japanese culture such as food and language. Have you spent time in Asia and abroad in general?

MLP: Thanks so much for interviewing me, Nathalie!

To answer your question, I want to travel to Japan and all over the world. But, no, I haven’t been to Japan yet. I became more familiar with Japanese culture than I might have otherwise when I started practicing Buddhism. The form of Buddhism I practice, Nichiren, began in Japan. The people who brought this teaching to the U.S. and spread it worldwide were Japanese. Many of the practitioners I met when I started my practice were Japanese. So it was only natural that I became familiar with things Japanese. For PEACEBUILDERS, I researched traditional dishes, like oden, a winter stew, to make the book authentically reflect Japanese culture.

I am curious to know how you made the transition from Taneesha’s books to PEACEBUILDERS…

Long before I wrote Taneesha Never Disparaging, or its predecessor, Taneesha’s Treasures of the Heart, I knew I’d write PEACEBUILDERS. This may sound weird, but I actually dreamed of writing this book in 1976 when I was 14 years-old—years before I’d ever heard of Daisaku Ikeda or knew anything about Buddhism.

In recent years, I pitched the idea of PEACEBUILDERS to publishers, including Buddhist publishers. I pitched it to agents, too. But, I think because Daisaku Ikeda is not as well known in the U.S. as he is in Asia, agents told me they saw no market for it. It could also be that my pitched letter sucked.

Even so, I might have found a publisher for it anyway. But I made the mistake many writers make–I submitted the manuscript before it was in top shape. So every publisher I submitted to rejected it.

By the time I’d gone through the critique and revision processes to the degree the story needed to be fit for publication, I realized that even if a publisher picked it up, due to Daisaku Ikeda’s advanced age, I could not guarantee that the book would be published in time for him to be able to know children around the world were being inspired by his story and that of his beloved teacher, Josei Toda.

I heard the clock of age loudly bonging—my age (48) and Daisaku Ikeda’s age (82). So I decided to publish PEACEBUILDERS through my company, Forest Hill Publishing, LLC. I also decided to release it on the date that Josei Toda passed the task of building world peace to Daisaku Ikeda and all young people in 1958—March 16, which Soka Gakka International (SGI) Nichiren Buddhists celebrate as “World Peace Day.”

Do you intend PEACEBUILDERS to become a series, or is it a stand-alone book?

I’m working on companion books to PEACEBUILDERS.

LaVora, we read in your biography that you have been practicing Buddhism since 1987. If I may ask, how did you embark on that spiritual journey?

In 1986, I was living New York. A year earlier, I’d moved there from my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio to become an actress after I was kicked out of Ithaca College’s theatre arts program because I’d been too depressed to attend classes.

Sometime after midnight on February 16, 1986, I was walking the streets of Forte Greene Brooklyn with no where to go. The guy I lived with was in our apartment with his “real “girlfriend” who had come down from upstate and discovered, that night, that her boyfriend was mine, too.

The two of them were in the apartment, where I’d heard my “boyfriend” say about me: “I don’t love her!,” and about his other girlfriend: “I love YOU!” After that, I walked out into the night, feeling totally alone and demoralized.

As I walked down the sidewalk, three smiling woman approached me and invited me to a Buddhist meeting. They looked so happy—just the opposite of how I felt. I went to the meeting with them and joined the SGI-USA Buddhist organization that night.

But I didn’t start practicing Buddhism until the fall of 1987 when a friend convinced me to do the practice—chant the words Nam-myoho-renge-kyo while imagining my desires. The day I did this, I landed my first performing job since arriving in New York two years earlier. For the first time ever, I felt I could change reality. After that, I was in. I’ve been chanting ever since.

How does your spiritual life influence your work as a writer and a publisher?

My spiritual life is my life. If I’m not taking care of my spiritual business, everything goes haywire.

As an actress, you starred in plays and movies. Does such an experience give you a particular approach or strategy in writing for children? And does that come into play in the workshops that you lead?

“Starred in movies” sounds way bigger than anything I’ve ever done. But, yes, my acting background definitely impacts my writing.

When I conduct school workshops, I incorporate drama into reading my stories. And when I’m writing, I read out loud to hear how the words sound—to hear if dialogue sounds the way my characters talk, if the narrative flows, if the sentence structure works. If I have a character performing a certain task, I might act it out to see if it is physically possible to carry out the task the way I’ve described it being done, and to see what words most precisely convey what the character is doing.

You started Forest Hill Publishing in 2004. You have successfully self-published, and you even published other authors such journalist Beverly Robinson and Chicken Soup for the Soul author Nancy Gilliam.

I personally judge a book by its content, not its press. Despite success stories like yours or Zetta Elliot whose self-published book recently got picked up for publication by Amazon, what would you attribute the prejudice suffered by self-published authors?

Again, “success story” sounds bigger than what I’ve achieved—but I plan to live up to it. In any case, I am deeply grateful that you judge a book on its merits because I respect your opinion. I can’t wait to read Zetta’s novel, A Wish After Midnight. People like you and Ari over at the Reading in Color blog have totally whetted my appetite for it.

That said, I think the responsibility for eliminating the prejudice against self-published books ultimately lies with the authors of these books, me included. While industry bias exists, and prejudice exists, the cold hard fact is that too many self-published books are poorly written and riddled with typos.

I once heard Newbery award-winning author Linda Sue Park say that instead of saying “My manuscript is just as good as other books I’ve read,” before we writers start submitting a manuscript to publishers, we should be able to say, “My manuscript is as good as the best books I’ve ever read.”I think we self-publishers need to apply the same high standard to our books.

I’d drive myself crazy trying to take a purely external approach to breaking down the mountain of prejudice that is very real in this world and that functions to keep people like me down. I think one of the most effective ways for me to fight this battle is to become so good at what I do that people can’t help but want want what I produce. I’m okay with the fact that I’m not there yet. I won’t stop until I get there.

What was the most challenging experience when you created Forest Hill Publishing, LLC, and How does one start a publishing company?

Money has been my biggest obstacle as a publisher. With sufficient cash, hiring editorial, design, and marketing staff would be a snap.

Beyond that, I’d like to point readers to my book Successful Self-Publishing—From Children’s Author to Independent Publisher, A Simple Guide for New and Not So New Authors. It predates blogging, FaceBook, and Twitter; so it needs updating and I have no idea when I’ll do that. But even so, it lists effective strategies I used to start Forest Hill Publishing on a virtually non-existent budget and sell thousands of books as a result. These strategies are just as relevant now as when first Successful Self-Publishing launched.

What has been your most rewarding experience?

The most rewarding thing for me as a writer is when a reader says “I like your book.” Nothing beats that kind of genuine affirmation.

Does Forest Publishing intend to publish other writers? If yes, what are you currently looking for?

Right now, Forest Hill will consider all types of projects. Regardless of the project, we require our authors to assume most of the responsibility for selling their books.

What are the submission guidelines?

Forest Hill Publishing’s guidelines are posted on our “About Us” page.

Last but not least: the success and growing recognition you’ve earned does not come without an efficient marketing strategy! *Hat down* Any tips for the writer getting ready to promote his or her first book?

Read Successful Self-Publishing and check out the marketing and promotion resources I list on my personal website. Set up your own website and blog. Use FaceBook, Twitter, and any other media that’s relevant to people in your target audience and widely used by them. Recognize that bookstores are typically not the best places to sell books. Keep your eyes open for non-traditional bookselling opportunities, andcreate such opportunities.

Are there any questions you wished I had asked?

I’ve launched a PEACEBUILDERS essay contest for grades K – 12. The deadline to enter is March 16. Details are on my BookCover kjidlit blogI got the idea for the contest from Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich ran for her debut novel, 8th Grade Super Zero .

A few of the the writers groups and associations listed on my website really help me develop as a writer and learn about the industry—the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, the Highlights Foundation writers workshop in Chautauqua New York, which offers a scholarship, and most recently, the relatively new, but dynamic, Association of Children’s Authors and Illustrators of Color.

Also, March 19-21, the newly formed Multicultural Literature Advocacy Group holds its first conference in Mobile, Alabama. There’s still time to register. I hope many writers of color, and those who support the cause of diversity in publishing, will attend. I’ll be presenting a publishing workshop.

Lastly, I once made the mistake of ordering a few hundred copies of Successful Self-Publishing for an event at which I sold about five books. I’m now selling them at a big discount. Details are on my Fear-It’s So Yesterday, blog.

LaVora, thank you again for your time and for sharing your experience. I look forward to Forest Hill Publishing’s upcoming projects!

Again, thank you, Nathalie! You have a tremendously giving and expansive spirit. I’m really touched that you asked me for this interview.

For more information on LaVora Perry, visit
o LaVora’s Website
o Her blog: Fear-It’s So Yesterday
o Forest Hill Publishing, LLC
o Facebook
o Twitter

LaVora’s interviews
o by Amy Bowllan for Writers Against Racism, at the School Library Journal
o To learn what the “M” stands for in M. LaVora Perry and more, read the following interview she gave at the Brown Bookshelf.
o Multiculturalism Rocks! review of PEACEBUILDERS.

Books by LaVora Perry:

An Interview with Malinda Lo

Tarie interviews Malinda Lo

Why did you choose to retell Cinderella? What did you find compelling about it?

The short version is, I loved "Cinderella" when I was a little girl, and as I grew up, I wished that my favorite author, Robin McKinley, would retell it. She never did, so I decided to write the book that I wanted to read.

For a longer version, feel free to check out my FAQ, where I answer this question here

What was the research and writing process you used for Ash? Did you do a lot of research on the different versions of Cinderella? What literary and non-literary influences and inspirations did you draw from while writing Ash?

When I began working on Ash, I was a graduate student studying cultural anthropology, so I used a lot of that training in my research. I did read many different versions of "Cinderella" from all over the world. I also read critical analyses of fairy tales that unpacked the meaning of these stories. I especially enjoyed Marina Warner's From the Beast to the Blonde (http://www.marinawarner.com/beast.html), which delves into the storytellers behind the stories, as well as feminist criticism.

I also read a lot of folklore collected in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Britain and Ireland. I'm especially indebted to the work of British folklorist Katharine Briggs. Those stories heavily influenced the kinds of fairies that are in Ash, as well as the fairy tales I tell in the book.

My other literary inspirations for Ash include Robin McKinley's Beauty, Rose Daughter, and Deerskin, three amazing fairy tale retellings; and the fairy tale retellings of Angela Carter in The Bloody Chamber (not for children!).

Of all the different versions of Cinderella you read, which one did you like the most or find the most interesting, and why?

I'm sorry to say I don't really remember liking one particular version better than any others. During my research phase, I wasn't reading them to see which ones I liked; I was reading them to see what they did differently from each other. I wanted to see which elements of the tale repeated across retellings, which ones didn't, etc.

However, I also watched a lot of Cinderella movies (there are a ton), and among these, I did really like Ever After, starring Drew Barrymore. It was sweet and kinda cheesy, but enjoyable. And I thought it did a great job of making the prince into someone interesting.

What were a few of the things that were repeated across the retellings and a few of the things that weren't?

Well, it's interesting to look at what the source of magic is in each Cinderella story. In the Disney version, which is based on Charles Perrault's retelling, the magical element comes in the form of a fairy godmother. But in the Grimms' version, it's in the form of a tree that Cinderella plants over her mother's grave. That tree, and the birds that land on its branches and ultimately peck out the eyes of the wicked stepsisters, could be seen as extensions of Cinderella's dead mother, who sort of comes back from the grave to help her daughter. In a Chinese version of the story, the magical element is in the form of a fish. So, you get the picture! Choosing how the magical element would be incorporated into Ash — in the form of Sidhean, the male fairy — was one of the first decisions I made.

As for what's not in all the versions of the story ... in some cases, Cinderella is made to perform a series of near-impossible tasks before she can go to the ball, such as pick out a hundred lentils thrown among the ashes of the fire. In other versions, she just gets to go to the ball. In one draft of Ash I did have her do some kind of impossible task, but that was cut out because it bogged the story down. The idea of impossibility was instead referenced when Sidhean gives her the medallion that enables her to call him, and he tells her, "Use this when you need something impossible."

Is there anything about Cinderella that you didn't like and made sure to change in Ash?

Well, most obviously, I wasn't really into Prince Charming. :) I think that he is the weakest part of the traditional fairy tale, actually, because he has very little personality. When I decided to retell the story, I knew that I would have to create a very believable and charming love interest, and initially I had some trouble with that character. In the first draft, Ash did fall in love with the prince, but their love was terribly unconvincing. It wasn't until a friend of mine, who read the first draft and pointed out that Ash was much more interested in this other, female character, that I realized who the true "Prince Charming" was.

And I have to say I really enjoyed developing the character of Kaisa. She was there from the first draft, but it took a few rewrites for me to really understand who she was. I think most of my favorite scenes in Ash involve her.

What are the challenges and rewards of being a woman writer of color?

One of the challenges for me is that not only am I a person of color, I'm queer. So juggling both of those minority identities can be difficult. I often feel like I'm being asked to choose between them, when in fact both are part of me, but neither of them comprise the whole.

Sometimes writers of color are expected to represent their own cultures and experiences, when that is not necessarily expected of white writers. I think that's a shame, because as writers and artists, I believe we write the stories that call to us. Sometimes that doesn't involve telling a story about being a minority, and being criticized for that can feel, well, unfair.

Of course, there are many rewards to standing up for who you are and sharing that with others. The emails and messages I've gotten from readers who identify with my book have been amazing. It's always especially wonderful when someone who is queer and Asian writes to me, and tells me that Ash made her day. Writing is all about connecting with others, and when that connection is made on such a gut level, I'm always deeply touched.

What are your favorite books by women writers of color?

A lot of the books I've loved by women writers of color are memoir or poetry. I still read through Alice Walker's Her Blue Body Everything We Know: Earthling Poems 1965-1990, every so often. Her poems can be so short, but so sharp.

And one memoir that I still remember years after reading it is M. Elaine Mar's Paper Daughter. It's about a Chinese girl who immigrates to Denver, Colorado, which is what I did, too. Her experiences of growing up in a predominantly white community really resonated with me.

This year, I've enjoyed Justina Chen Headley's North of Beautiful, a YA novel about a girl and her mother, beauty and love (and a great Chinese American boy); and Cindy Pon's Silver Phoenix, a YA fantasy set in a China-like world. So much action and fun and food!

Doret Interviews Debbie Rigaud

Thanks to Doret, we present an interview with author, Debbie Rigaud. You can find Part I of their interview at Happy Nappy Bookseller and we'll follow up Doret's review of Perfect Shot tomorrow.

Perfect Shot is your first novel, though you've been published before,
including an essay for a collection called Transculturalism. Can you tell us a little about "Voodoo Ray?"

Sure. Let me first point out that I had nothing to do with the title of my essay, "Voodoo Ray." It was only when the book was already published that I saw the title it was given. But I was grateful for the opportunity to
contribute a piece about growing up Haitian-American. I guess the essay grew from my frustration with narrow and often rude reactions to my Haitian heritage. Once people learned about my background, their response usually was voodoo, boat people, ugly people, or that poorest country phrase we've heard a zillion times. To my face.

Seldom did it register for most people to mention Haiti's unique history. A hugely successful rebellion took place there, albeit at a significant cost. I've always felt that Haitians sacrificed so much for the sake of human rights throughout the New World, yet their descendants are made to feel ashamed or on the defense about who they are and where they come from. *quietly steps down from soap box*

I did do a slight double take at the title. Debbie, please get back on your soap box. How did the Haitian revoultion impact human rights of the New World? Do you have a family connection to the revoultion?

LOL! The reason I don't like to stay in my soapbox for too long is because at heart, I'm really just a new age girlie who'd rather join hands and sing Kumbaya. But my experiences in life have taught me that it's important to know a bit of your history. Speaking of which, The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James is a good book about the Haitian revolution. Andyes, on my dad's side, I do have a connection to the revolution, a great-great-great (great?) grandfather was a revolutionary leader.

I thought your essay in Transculturalism was informative, powerful and question raising. Why do you think Toussaint Louverture and other Haitian revolutionaries go unrecognized?

Good question. It could have to do with the singular role that they play in history. These revolutionary heroes led successful slave rebellions against celebrated giants like Napoleon and formidable forces like the British regiments. I had a discussion with a British friend, who thought I was making wild claims when I told him about the Haitian Revolution. Only after he consulted history books and did independent research did he believe me. It's always cool when a friendly exchange leads us to learn something fascinating about a persons, back story.

I agree, its nice when people actually listen (and hear) and learn from each other.It's very rare especially when politics and nationalities are involved. Debbie, can you tell us a little about your recent fund-raiser for Haiti?

Here in Bermuda, there are two local charities who have a history of doing amazing work in Haiti. After the quake, a group of us organized a few fundraisers in support of these two charities. Both of which have medical teams treating survivors in and outside of the Haitian capital. Most recently, we held an island-wide tag day that helped raised thousands of dollars for Haiti.

Everytime I hear of a new fund-raiser for Haiti, it gives me hope and reminds me that people still care..

What do you think will happen in Haiti? What would you like to see happen?

Like everyone else, I hope that the country rebuilds with an improved infrastructure. Among Haitian-Americans and other Haitians living abroad, there's been talk of playing a significant role in that process, which is great. A lot of people who left Haiti decades ago are planning on returning home to lend their expertise or assist in any capacity that they can.

Debbie- Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions. I hope people will read this and be encouraged to look for more answers.

Yes. And I also hope that the next time a teen is selected to take on a singular role, she's inspired to instead ask, Why not me?

Interview With Maya Ganesan

Not long ago we had the pleasure of featuring poet, Maya Ganesan here and she was also gracious enough to provide a copy of her debut collection, Apologies to An Apple for our Summer Madness Giveaway. Tonight, I'm pleased to share an interview with this impressive artist.

Susan:
I read that your parents hired a writing coach for you when you decided you were serious about your poetry. Tell me about your coach and what you’ve learned from her.

Maya: Her name is Katherine Grace Bond, and without her I couldn't have even come close to publishing Apologies to an Apple. She introduced me to so many new poets I'd never heard of before, helped me through the process of getting published and requesting blurbs, and showed me how to revise and fine-tune my work. I'm so grateful for her help and glad that she was there to lead the way into a place I'd never been.


What came first: the overall theme of the collection you wanted to put together or selecting your best work?

Selecting my best work came first, definitely. The whole concept of a theme half-formed while I was picking and choosing what I thought were my best poems--I think I started rejecting more serious pieces because I wanted more of a lighter, whimsical feel to the collection. I actually reworked one of the pieces, which was about death, to make the poem less depressing.

Once we'd decided that we wanted three separate sections, I split the selected poems into the three smaller themes I'd seen emerge. One group of poems had more of a nature theme to it, another group involved some interaction between nature and people, and the third group was focused on people.

What were your expectations for Apologies, your vision? Did you achieve what you set out to accomplish?

I can't say that I achieved my expectations because I honestly didn't know what to expect. I'm just extremely thankful for all the support. So many reviews, recommendations, mentions, interviews...thank you to everyone who's been encouraging and spreading the word about Apologies to an Apple. It really means a lot to me, and the fact that I've only received positive reviews so far and that everyone who's read it has loved it is just so incredible. I don't know what kind of response I was hoping to receive, but I'm thrilled with the response I'm getting. It's been amazing.

What was the most rewarding part of putting your collection together? What was the most challenging aspect of putting your manuscript together?

The most rewarding part of putting my collection together was, of course, writing the poems. It was one of the most exciting things ever. Writing Apologies to an Apple was so cool because it's somehow way more fun to write for a collection than it is to write a handful of poems when you don't know where they're going to end up: the trash, a journal, or your next collection.

I don't think any part of the writing or publishing process was challenging. There were definitely some sticky times, when I either had a craze to keep editing or we just couldn't decide on the cover (that decision took us several weeks). I was surrounded by people who were very kind and helped me through the whole procedure, so I didn't have much of a challenge at all.

How did you find an agent or publisher? What was the process of getting published like?

Katherine introduced us to a local publishing company, Classic Day Publishing, which agreed to publish Apologies to an Apple (which was untitled at that point). I wrote a lot of poems and edited them until I thought they were perfect. Also, designing the cover was so fun! Getting published was exciting, and I really enjoyed the process.

Let’s talk poetry in greater detail. You’ve said that one of your favorite poets is Mary Oliver. What draws you to her work? Do you try to emulate her in any way? You’ve also listed Kelli Agodon as a favorite poet. Tell us about the appeal of this poet’s work for you.

I try not to emulate other poets, but I've been told it slips up a little in my writing. I'm drawn to poets who bring a fresh perspective. It's nice when a poet can take something obvious and make it seem less blatantly factual, which is what I think Kelli is so good at. She can take something "normal" and transform it into a poem with so much substance and depth to it.

Mary Oliver can bring simple moments into the spotlight in a beautiful way. Plus, the imagery in her poems is so vivid.

Revision. That dreaded ‘r’ word for some poets. How do you approach it? Describe the difference of revision versus editing for you. And speaking of editing, in working with your coach, how did you feel about critique and feedback? Can you explain to our readers what a critique is?

For me, editing is more grammatical, spelling, typos, punctuation, capitalization, etc. Revision is changing up the content of the piece. I try to target the sections of a first draft that I don't like. Once I've figured out what I don't like about those parts, I pretend like I'm in the situation that the narrator is in and try to rewrite the weak sections. Sometimes I'll end up rewriting and reconstructing the poem because my fixes ended up stronger than the rest of the piece.

After some initial advice from Katherine, I started to rewrite and revise my poems more confidently. I love feedback and input; to me, the more, the better. Once I finish a poem, I always want to know what people think of it, so occasionally I'll post my poems up on my blog because I know I'll get some pretty solid feedback. I host collaborative poems on my blog for the very same reason -- I think it's really cool to have a lot of people's minds come together on a project.

And a critique is basically just that -- feedback. Critiques are so helpful because having that input makes a poem so much better. Also, you have the freedom to reject what people tell you, especially if that feedback changes the poem in a way you dislike.

Who are you currently reading? Have you discovered any poets you want to read more?

I'm reading Ted Kooser's Delights and Shadows, but I read most of my poetry online simply because it's easier to access a wide range of poems that way. I like visiting poets' blogs since they quite often post poems up (a few notable blogs being Poet Mom, Book of Kells, and Beth Kephart Books). I haven't "discovered" any poets recently, but if you have any recommendations, I'll take them!

When you’re not reading or writing poetry, what do you read? Any favorite authors?

When I'm not reading poetry, I read fiction, fiction, fiction -- as much of it as I find time to read. I like a little bit of everything, frankly: I love House of Dance and The Heart is Not a Size by Beth Kephart, Wintergirls and Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (powerful books), Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta, Permanent Rose (and the rest of the books in that series) by Hilary McKay, North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley...the list goes on and on. Long story short, I like variety in what I'm reading, but I do tend to dislike some of the "popular" books out there (The Hunger Games, Twilight, etc.).

Thank you! It was a lot of fun answering your questions.

Thank you, Maya. Having the opportunity to learn more about you and your take on poetry has been my pleasure. I look forward to hearing more from you in the future.